EUGENE – A day after competing in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships, Texas A&M's Nathan Hite was recognized at Hayward Field for winning the men's Elite 90 award for the outdoor track and field season.
Â
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Â
Hite, from Bellville, Texas, is a senior academically and a junior athletically. He is majoring in Mechanical Engineering where he has a grade point average of 3.971. In May, Hite received the Bill Erwin male Scholar-Athlete of the Year among all sports at Texas A&M.
Â
"He is a very hard working young man, dedicated to getting better all the time," said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. "Nathan has had great improvement over the last two years both physically and mentally."
Â
A bronze medalist in the decathlon at the SEC Championships, Hite scored 7,723 points to qualify for the national meet. Hite did not finish the NCAA decathlon, completing nine of the 10 events, due to an injury.
Â
Hite's career best score of 7,723 ranks as the fourth best performer on the Texas A&M all-time list. Indoors, Hite scored 5,592 points for a bronze medal in the SEC heptathlon. That score ranks as the second best performer with the sixth best performance on the Aggie all-time list.
Â
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
Â
Hite, from Bellville, Texas, is a senior academically and a junior athletically. He is majoring in Mechanical Engineering where he has a grade point average of 3.971. In May, Hite received the Bill Erwin male Scholar-Athlete of the Year among all sports at Texas A&M.
Â
"He is a very hard working young man, dedicated to getting better all the time," said Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry. "Nathan has had great improvement over the last two years both physically and mentally."
Â
A bronze medalist in the decathlon at the SEC Championships, Hite scored 7,723 points to qualify for the national meet. Hite did not finish the NCAA decathlon, completing nine of the 10 events, due to an injury.
Â
Hite's career best score of 7,723 ranks as the fourth best performer on the Texas A&M all-time list. Indoors, Hite scored 5,592 points for a bronze medal in the SEC heptathlon. That score ranks as the second best performer with the sixth best performance on the Aggie all-time list.